John P. Drager, 81
John’s rich and fulfilling life ended peacefully in Coeur d’Alene on Feb. 26, 2022. John was born in Coeur d’Alene to John L. Drager and Patricia (Knudson) Drager on Sept. 6, 1940. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Syd Drager. He leaves behind his wife Evelyn Drager of 61 years; son Mike (Connie) Drager of Hayden; son Jeff Drager of Coeur d’Alene; granddaughter Dr. Dayna (Devan) Telken of Gilbert, Ariz.; and Erik Drager of Chandler, Ariz.
John attended high school in Kellogg and graduated from Wallace High School in 1958. He attended North Idaho College where he played basketball and then graduated from the University of Idaho. He married Evelyn “Tootie” Bratton in Wallace in 1960.
John spent his entire career at Mullan High School where he was a teacher, coached football, basketball and track. In football, his teams had a record of 229-51 and basketball 431-186. His teams won a total of 28 North Star League titles and two state championships. He was Idaho coach of the year twice, he has been inducted into the Wallace High School Hall of fame, North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame, Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame and has received the Spokane Regional Sports Commission Award. He was also the coach of several Idaho State All Star games and started the North Idaho Basketball All Star game in Mullan. He was also the high school bus driver to all games and drove Mullan athletes to Bloomsday for several years. After his professional career, John helped coach his grandchildren in Park & Rec and AAU basketball, as well as junior tackle football.
John loved coaching, loved helping kids and loved the people of the Silver Valley. In retirement he enjoyed golf, traveling and following the success of his grandchildren. He very much enjoyed raising horses and dogs on their farm. John never lost his love for the music of Elvis. He was well-known for his sense of humor which was one of his greatest attributes. He never stopped cracking jokes and always had a one liner to slip into the conversation.
The honor and respect he received from those he coached and taught has been well-documented in a beautiful article in the Coeur d’Alene Press by Jason Elliott on Feb. 26, Mark Nelke’s article in The Press on March 1, the Spokesman-Review article on March 1 by Dave Nichols, and wonderful tribute encompassing the entire Shoshone New-Press on Feb. 18 (Thank you Keri Alexander), as well as an excellent articulate written by Greg Lee in the Spokesman-Review on Jan. 30, 1997. The thoughts, prayers and love received by people throughout North Idaho and the Inland Empire has been overwhelming.
A celebration of life will be scheduled later in the year. He asked that in lieu of flowers, a donation be sent to the Mullan Boys and Girls Athletic Fund at Mullan High School, 345 Park St., Mullan, ID 83846.
